Football-game-reporting device



July 31, 1928.

' 7 1,679,160 N. E. HELLAND .ET AL FOOTBALL GAME REPORTING DEVICE Filed April 9, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTURE.

Nyman if fie/lana 2i c/lfim/ c. fab/711900 O/fo A. Bierbrauer. i EIY Fag .4 8/ Aim? A TTURNY July 31, 1928. 1,679,160

N. E. HELLAND ET AL FOOTBALL GAME REPORTING DEVICE Filed April 9, 1925 2 Sheqts-Sheet 2 5- .5 ATTEIRIIQEYJ" Patented July 31, 1928) ENT OFFICE NYZMZAN E. HELL-AND, CLIFFORD o. HARRISON, AND o'rro A. BIERBRAUER, or

, I SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

FooTBAL -GAMn-RnronTiNG nnvrcn.

Application filed April. 9, 1925. Serial No. 21,965.

My invention relates to the art of a. football game reporting device. More part1cularly my invention relates to a means for displaying to a group of spectators V the course of afootball game being played at a place geographically distant from' sald group. e

Publishers of newspapers are making it a part of the service which they render the public to report football games belng played in another place to such group or crowd as may gather in the street in front of the newspaper ofiice. Bulletins, according to the more usual practice, have been posted, giving the facts aboutthe progress of the game. Objection obtains to this bulletin form of reporting in that the same merely sets forth what has taken place. A primary object of my invention is to provide a football game reporting means of a character which graphically shows the game in course of play, so that the psychological effect upon the spectators, by appealing to the senses of sight and hearing, is that they are made to feel they are at the game,that they are seeing the game simultaneously with the ac-. tual spectators, in contrast with reading about a past event.

A further object of my invention 1s to provide suchja reporting means as may be operatedin' the rear thereof, so that while the face. ofthe said means is exposed to out.- side weather conditions,"the operator is protected in the manipulation of the telegraphic or; other instruments "of communication, and such operator 1s concealed from the spectatoi:s,'so that there is no lessening of the sense of reality of the game as viewed by the spectators on this account.

A fu-rther primary obj ectis to provide in combination with such afootball game reporting means a means to-display the teams and tod istinguish the offensive from the defensive team, whereby it is-possible, in conjunction with a movable football symbol, to indicate which; member of the-team is carrying'the ball, and what progresssuchplayer makesin given play.

' A further'primary object of my invention is to provide means which will, show all the different kinds of plays, such as when the ball is punted and when a goal kick is made, etc.

The above mentioned general objects of my invention, together with others inherent football gamev reporting device embodying my invention Fig. 2 is a rear view in elevation of the same; Fig.3 is a view in longitudinal section on dotted line 3, Sof 1;

Fig. 4 is a view in vertical section on dot-ted line 4, 4 of Fig. 1; n

Fig. 5 is a fragmcntaryview in perspective of one end portion of said device; and

Fig. 6 is a view of a. detail of said device.

In a frame 8, having recess 9, a board 10, which represents a football field, is disposed. The football field is in spaced relation to the frame 8 and has the yard numerals l1 disposed along the upper edge thereof, and also has the goal posts 12 and 13 at each end thereof. Through the center of said board a slot 14 is provided, "the upper "and lower edges of said slot being provided with a track means 15, whereby is provided a sides of said field of play means. VVherever' in, this specification and in the claims the term field of play occurs, it is intended to include this member showing both football teams in, line-up formation, one part of the field of play being movable across the face of the board, and a duplication thereof on the rear of the board, and saic field of play being longitudinally axially movable of theboa-rd. The said field of play is preferably' mounted" on pivot 21, whereby said field of play is notv only movable lengthwise in said groove l6, but is also revolvably mounted as respects the mounting means 17 "Along the upper'edge of board a marksman means 22 is provided.

On the margin voftlie frame 8, panels 23 and 245 are disposed, in which panels may be displayed cards indicating the names of the players of the respective teams. In the upper portion of the frame 8, panels and 26 are provided to give the score and other information, respectively. I

A symbol of a football 27 is pendently mounted by cables 28, 29, 30 and 31, whereby the said football symbol 27 may be movable over the face of said board, and may be held in such position as may be selected. Said cables respectively pass over pulleys 32, 33, 34 and 35. These pulleys, Fig. 1, are shown in dotted line as they are on the rear side of the frame 8. The said pulleys are mounted on shafts 36, 37, 38 and 39. On the opposite end of these shafts, respectively, are disposed pulleys 40, 41, 42 and 43. To a handle 44, which is registerable with said football symbol 27, cables 45, 46, 47 and.

48 are secured. Cable passes over pulley 40, and through a weight pulley 49, and is made fast at 50, while cable 46 similarly passes over pulley 41 and under weight pulley 51 and is made fast at 52. Cable 47 passes under pulley 42 and over pulley 53 and under weight pulley 54, and is made fast at 55. Cable 48 similarly passes under pulley 43 and over pulley 56 and under weight pulley 57 and is made fast at 58. The handle 44, together with the cables 28, 29, 30, 31, 45, 46, 47 and 48 and the associated pulleys and weights, compose what is herein referred to as the football positioning means. i

Slot 14 is closed by means of a curtain 59 mounted on rollers 60 and 61. To curtain 59 the field of play mounting means 17 is secured, so that as said field of play mounting means 17 is moved longitudinally of the device, said curtain is likewise moved longitudinally, unrolling as respects one roller and rolling up on the other, so that said space is at all times closed and conceals the operator from the spectators in front of the board, as well as affords protection against weather.

The mode of operation of a device embodying my invention is as follows:

As the ball is put in play,a bell 62 is rung.

The ball in the beginning starts in the middle of the field, and with field of play 18 as illustrated, it would be the U of C team that would be the home team. The ball would then be moved down the field asmany yards as the report over the telegraphic wire would require, and then it would be moved back as carried by a particular player. WVhen the ball is put in rapid motion, red light 63 is flashed, and at the same time a card shows in panel 64 that a kickoff has occurred. a card showing that fact would be displayed. At the end of the first quarter, the field of play would be revolved upon the roller 21, so that the home team would be represented If the ball had been punted, then 7 on the left-hand side as it would be defending goal post 13 instead of 12, and likewise at the end of the third quarter the field of play would be revolved, since the rules of the game require this change of the teams as respects the goals which they are defending.

The field of play 18 will follow the ball up and down the field. If the football is passed back to the member playing the position of right half, the card giving the name of said right half player is displayed in the U of W teamline-up panel 23. Then the ball will be moved as the play requires, and

the marksman means 22 will be likewise moved accordingly, so that the spectator he holds a graphic representation of the game in actual course of play. The operator, who moves the football symbol 27 by moving the handle means 44, knows that the football symbol is directly opposite his handle 44, since the cables and pulleys are so disposed to maintain the football symbol 27 in exact registration with the handle 44. In this wise, the operator knows at all times exactly where the football symbol is as respects the field on the opposite side.

Obviously, changes may be made in the form, dimensions, and arrangement of the parts of my invention, without departing from the principle thereof, the above setting forth only a preferred form of embodiment.

o claim:

1. A football game reporting device embodying a board having a football field illustrated thereon; a field of play means disposed for movement longitudinally over the face of said board; and a symbol of a football movable over the face of said board and over said field of play means.

2. A football game reportin device embodying a board .havinga ootball field illustrated thereon; a field of play means disposed for movement longitudinally over the face of said board and reversably mounted, whereby the sides of said means may be reversed relative the ends of said board; and a symbol of a football movable over the face of said board and over said field of play means. e

3. A football game reporting device embodying a board having a football field illustrated thereon; a frame disposed in spaced relation to said board; a field of play means disposed'for movement longitudinally of said board and reversablymounted, whereby the sides of said means may bereversed relative the, ends of said board and a symbol of a football movable over the face of said board and oversaid field of play means.

4. In combination with a football game reporting device, a field ofplay means'di'sposed for movement longitudinally of said board.

5. In combination with a football game reporting device, a field of play means disposed for movement longitudinally of said board and reversably mounted, whereby the sides of said means may be reversed relative the ends of said board.

6. In combination with a football game reporting device, having a board representing a football field, which board has an axially longitudinally disposed slot, a field of play mounting means operatively slidably disposed in said slot, and a field of play means pivotally mounted upon said mounting means.

7. A football game reporting device embodying a board having a football field illustrated on both sides thereof; a slot extending longitudinally of said board; a field of play mountlng means operatively disposed in said slot; a field of play means pivotally mounted upon and releasably fixedly disposed upon said mounting means; and a symbol of a football movable over the face of said board.

8. A football game reporting device embodying a board having a football field illustrated thereon; a slot extending longitudinally of said board; a field of play mounting means operatively disposed in said slot; a field of play means pivotally mounted upon and releasably fixedly disposed upon said mounting means; a slot closing curtain secured to said field of play mounting means whereby said slot may be maintained closed; and a symbol of a football movable over the face of said board.

9. A football game reporting device embodying a board having a football field illustrated thereon; a slot extending longitudinally of said board; a field of play mounting means operatively disposed in said slot; a field of play means pivotally mounted upon and releasably fixedly disposed upon said mounting means; a slot closing curtain secured to said field of play mounting means, whereby said slot may be maintained closed; a line-man means slidably disposed upon the upper edge of said board; and a symbol of a football movable over the face of said board.

10. A football game reporting device embodying a board having a football field illustrated thereon; a frame disposed in spaced relation to said board; card panels disposed in said frame; a field'of play means disposed for movement longitudinally of said board; and a symbol of a football movable over-the face of said board.

In witness whereof, we hereunto subscribe our names this 26th day of March, 1925.

NYMAN E. HELLAND. CLIFFORD C. HARRISON. OTTO A. BIERBRAUER. 

